Apparatus and method of environmental condition management for electronic equipment

ABSTRACT

A control system for providing thermal management of electronic equipment housed in a cabinet enclosure. The system can include a plurality of sensors in proximity to the cabinet enclosure for monitoring a temperature, a pressure and a humidity associated with the electronic equipment; and a controller in communication with the sensors for receiving data from the sensors, where the controller adjusts the temperature, the pressure and the humidity associated with the electronic equipment.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/119,980 filed on Dec. 4, 2008, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/626,278 entitled “System And Method Of Providing Computer Resources” now U.S. Pat. No. 8,434,804 filed contemporaneously herewith, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to environmental condition management for electronic equipment, and particularly to a cabinet system for achieving the desired environmental conditions for servers and other electronic equipment.

BACKGROUND

Data centers typically involve a large number of rack-mounted servers that are housed together in cabinets. Cooling of such server racks and cabinets is a major problem, particularly as processors typically produce large amounts of heat. It has been found that for every 1 watt of power used for Information Technology, 0.5 to 2 watts of power are used for cooling the electronic components, and thus the need for cooling uses a very high percentage of the total IT power consumption.

The power dissipation of high-performance CPU processors is predicted to exceed 150 W in the near future. The high-density packing of servers and the desire for lower CPU junction temperatures to achieve higher reliability of components means that thermal management of server racks is an increasing concern. Various solutions have been proposed, many of which involve large numbers of fans to keep a constant airflow over the electronic components. However, such solutions suffer from drawbacks associated with the power supply needed to power the fans, as well as reliability of such fans. Moreover, these are generally located in large facilities which further exacerbates the drawbacks.

In a number of solutions, server cabinets are placed on a false floor with cool air from an HVAC system being supplied through the false floor to a vent in front of the cabinet. The cooling airflow is then drawn front-to-back through the cabinet using fans, and vented out to the back of the cabinet. With such arrangements, it is desirable to use a “hot-aisle/cold-aisle” arrangement so that server fronts are arranged facing one another so that two aisles can draw cool air from a single vent area, and so that the server backs also face one another. The hot air is then allowed to vent to air return units in the ceiling. This can lead to “hot spots” in the server room, however, much of the hot air can also mix with the cool air circulating in the room. Various solutions to such problems involve the use of baffles extending from the top of the server cabinet to the ceiling to try to prevent some of the mixing between the hot and cold air.

The maximum allowed temperature range for a server in a data center is typically 59 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, while the recommended temperature is typically between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. As the known data center storage solutions typically allow some mixing of air prior to the air reaching the electronic components, data centers typically pump cold air at between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit to account for the temperature increase in the air before it can act to cool the components.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect of the exemplary embodiments, a system for providing thermal management of electronic equipment can be provided. The system can include a cabinet forming an enclosure for the electronic equipment, where the cabinet has an inlet and an outlet, where the inlet is in proximity to a bottom portion of the cabinet, and where the outlet is in proximity to a top portion of the cabinet; a supply channel connected with the cabinet inlet, where the cabinet is positioned on a floor and the supply channel is under the floor; an exhaust channel connected with the cabinet outlet; one or more plenums in fluid communication with at least one of the supply and exhaust channels, where the plenums have a pressure source for generating a pressure differential through the enclosure of the cabinet causing air to flow therethrough; a cooling coil positioned under the floor and in thermal contact with the supply channel, where a coolant flows through the cooling coil to remove heat from the air flowing through the supply channel; one or more sensors in proximity to the cabinet for monitoring at least one of a temperature, pressure and humidity associated with the electronic equipment; and a controller in communication with the sensors for receiving data from the sensors, where the controller adjusts at least one of the temperature, the pressure and the humidity associated with the electronic equipment.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, a control system for providing thermal management of electronic equipment housed in a cabinet enclosure can be provided. The system can include a plurality of sensors in proximity to the cabinet enclosure for monitoring a temperature, a pressure and a humidity associated with the electronic equipment; and a controller in communication with the sensors for receiving data from the sensors. The controller can independently adjust the temperature, the pressure and the humidity associated with the electronic equipment.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, a method can include, but is not limited to, the steps of: providing a pressure differential across electronic equipment housed in a cabinet enclosure using one or more pressurized plenums that are in fluid communication with at least one of a supply channel and an exhaust channel connected to the cabinet enclosure where the pressure differential causes air to flow along the electronic equipment to remove heat therefrom; capturing temperature and pressure data associated with the electronic equipment using a plurality of sensors positioned in proximity to the electronic equipment; transmitting the captured temperature and pressure data to a controller; and adjusting at least one of the pressure differential and a temperature of the air based on the monitored temperature and pressure.

The above-described and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top schematic view of a thermal management system for cabinets housing electronic equipment according to arrangements of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a plan schematic view of a portion of the system of FIG. 1 showing example airflow patterns.

FIGS. 2B-D are schematic illustrations of exemplary fans that can be used with the system of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 2E-I are schematic illustrations of other exemplary air flow components that can be used with the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2J is a schematic illustration of a chilled water loop system that can be used with the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2K is a side sectional view of another thermal management cabinet that can be used with the system of FIG. 1, showing example airflow patterns.

FIG. 2L is a front view of a power distribution unit that can be used with the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2M is a side view of a power distribution unit that can be used with the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2N is a isometric view of a power distribution unit that can be used with the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective isometric view of the thermal management cabinet of FIG. 2E with side panels removed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective isometric view of the thermal management cabinet of FIG. 2E with doors and baffles removed.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the thermal management cabinet of FIG. 2E.

FIG. 6 is a perspective isometric view of the thermal management cabinet of FIG. 2E, with servers removed.

FIG. 7 is a perspective isometric view of the interior components of the thermal management cabinet of FIG. 2E.

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the interior components of the thermal management cabinet of FIG. 2E, showing the foam door seal.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of the thermal management cabinet of FIG. 2E, showing example airflow patterns.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of another exemplary arrangement of thermal management cabinet according to the invention.

FIG. 11 is a view showing the flexible fingers used in the thermal management cabinet of FIG. 2E.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of a modular base for the thermal management cabinet of FIG. 2E.

FIG. 13 shows an exemplary embodiment of a perforated curtain for use in the thermal management cabinet according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a side view showing an exemplary embodiments of airflow plates for use in the thermal management cabinet according to the present invention.

FIGS. 15A-C depict air flow data for the fans of the exemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 16A-D depict cooling data for the coils of the exemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 17A-D shows another exemplary embodiment of a thermal cabinet housing that can be used with the system of FIG. 1

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described with respect to an environmental management system for electronic equipment. It should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to other types of management systems.

Referring to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 and 2A, an exemplary environmental management system 100 is illustrated. The system 100 can include a plurality of cabinets 10 that are arranged in rows 102 with access to the rows being provided by doors 105, although the present disclosure also contemplates other configurations for the cabinets. For example, the cabinets 10 can be arranged in an annular configuration (e.g., concentric rows). The particular configuration of the rows can be selected based on a number of factors, including facilitating adjustment of environmental conditions associated with the cabinets and/or maximizing facility space.

In one embodiment, the rows 102 can have different required environmental conditions. For example, a first group of rows 102 can be cabinets 10 that are housing servers, which require a large amount of cooling while a second group of rows of cabinets can be housing routers that require a smaller amount of cooling. By grouping the rows 102 according to environmental requirements (e.g., desired temperature and humidity ranges), system 100 can more efficiently control the environments associated with the particular electronic equipment.

In another embodiment, the groups of rows 102 can be organized according to cooling requirements so that the electronic equipment receives the necessary amount of cooling without receiving more than is necessary. For example, cabinets 10 that require the highest amount of cooling can be positioned in proximity to the cooling source (e.g., cooling subsystem 150 which will be described later) in order to reduce inefficiencies in providing the coolant while cabinets requiring the least cooling can be positioned farther from the cooling source.

The particular conduit configuration for delivery of the air to the cabinets 10 can vary. For example, an air supply channel can supply cooling air to multiple cabinets and/or multiple rows of cabinets. In one embodiment, each cabinet can be connected directly to an air supply channel so that each cabinet receives air that flows directly from the cooling subsystem 150 rather than from another cabinet. In another embodiment, the cabinets 10 can be arranged or grouped so that a portion of the cabinets receive cooling in series. For example, a first group of cabinets 10 requiring a large amount of cooling can directly receive air that has been cooled by the cooling subsystem 150. This cold air can flow across the electronic equipment of the first group of cabinets 10 and then can be directed towards a second group of cabinets that require a smaller amount of cooling. The air can then be returned to the cooling subsystem 150 for removal of the heat that has been transferred to the air by the first and second groups of cabinets.

In one embodiment as shown more clearly in FIG. 2A, the cabinets 10 can be in fluid communication with a pressurized plenum 210. The particular number of plenums 210 used can vary. For example, the facility can utilize a single plenum 210 so that the pressure differential is centrally generated. In another example, multiple pressurized plenums 210 can be utilized, such as one or more plenums being utilized for each row 102. The plenum 210 can have one or more pressure sources, such as fan 215, although other pressure sources are also contemplated including pumps and the like.

In one embodiment, the fan 215 can be a centrifugal fan as shown in FIGS. 2B-D. The fan 215 can include noise-absorption components and anti-vibration mounting components. Various filters and other components can be utilized in combination with the fan. In one embodiment, the fan 215 can be an adjustable speed fan to increase or decrease the pressure in the plenum 210. For example, the fan 215 can be a variable frequency drive fan. In another embodiment, a plurality of fans 215 can be in communication with the pressurized plenum 210 so that the pressure can be increased by operating additional fans of the plurality of fans. The present disclosure also contemplates the fan configuration being modular. For instance, the fans 215 can be easily added to the plenums, such as by removing a blocking plate that seals a wall of the plenum in the absence of the fan.

The cabinets 10 can be bound on a first side by a cold zone 110 and bound on a second side by a hot zone 111. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the cold and hot zones 110, 111 are access areas that have doors 105 so that technicians can access the cabinets when needed (such as for adding or removing the electronic equipment). However, the present disclosure also contemplates the cold and hot zones 110, 111 being integrally formed with the cabinets 10 and/or defined by an insulated false wall between the access areas and the cabinets. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2A, each cabinet in a row 102 share a cold zone 110 and a hot zone 111. However, the present disclosure contemplates other configurations of cold and hot zones 110, 111, such as individual cabinets or groups of cabinets in a single row having their own cold and hot zones. Adjacent hot and cold zones 111, 110 can be separated by a wall 115.

The pressurized plenum 210 can generate a pressure differential between the cold zone 110 and the hot zone 111 thereby causing air to flow across the electronic equipment in the cabinets which removes heat from said equipment. The number and configuration of plenums that are utilized to generate the desired pressure differential can vary based on a number of factors, including the type of electronic equipment that is being environmentally managed. For example, a plurality of plenums 210 can be in fluid communication with the cold and hot zones 110, 111 of each row 102. The pressurized plenums can generate positive pressure and/or negative pressure to create the desired pressure differential and thereby create air flow over the electronic equipment. For instance, a first pressurized plenum can generate a positive pressure (e.g., a desired pressure above ambient) in proximity to the cold zone 110, while a second pressurized plenum generates a negative pressure (e.g., a vacuum) in proximity to the hot zone 111.

In one embodiment, the use of pressurized plenums 210 allows system 100 to isolate fans from the electronic equipment. For example, the pressurized plenums 210 can increase air pressure using pumps so that the system does not utilize any fans. In another example, the pressure increase can result from the use of fans that are positioned remotely from the cabinets so that air flow from the fans does not directly contact the electronic equipment (e.g., the fans create air flow within the plenum that results in an increased pressure in the plenum which is in turn communicated to the cabinets).

The air passing over the electronic equipment is utilized to remove heat from the equipment. In turn, the cooling subsystem 150 can then remove the heat from the air. In one embodiment, the cooling subsystem 150 can be a vapor-compression cycle system, although other systems are also contemplated by the present disclosure. The subsystem 150 can include a pump 155 and one or more chillers 160 for cooling water or other coolant (e.g., chilled liquid settings between 15 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit) which is then supplied to coils 175 via supply lines 165 and return lines 170. The coils 175 can be positioned in thermal communication with the hot zone 111. For example, the coil 175 can be positioned under the floor 60 so that the air coming from hot zone 111 passes through the coil 175 then through the pressurized plenum 210 and back into the cold zone 111. The particular number and configuration of coils 175 that are utilized can vary based on a number of factors, including the number of pressurized plenums and configuration of the cold and hot zones that are being utilized. For example, each row 102 of cabinets 10 can have six equidistantly positioned pressurized plenums 210 under the floor 60 with a coil 175 in thermal communication with each of the plenums positioned downstream of the hot zone 111 and upstream of the cold zone 110 for each plenum).

To control the environment surrounding the electronic equipment, a controller 180 can be utilized. The controller can be a machine within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. In some embodiments, the machine can operate as a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may be connected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client user machine in server-client user network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a control system, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The exemplary embodiment described herein can utilize various power sources, including backup generators and the like. In one embodiment, solar energy can be utilized as a power source. The power can be based on various voltage sources and can include a medium voltage supply as well as a 480v supply.

The controller 180 can be in communication with one or more sensors for receiving environmental information associated with the electronic equipment. For example, one or more temperature sensors 225 and one or more pressure sensors 235 can be positioned with respect to the electronic equipment so that the sensors can capture environmental information and transmit the information to the controller 180. The particular positioning of the sensors can vary. For instance, temperature sensors 225 can be placed both upstream and downstream of the coil 175 so that the cooling efficiency of the coil can be easily monitored, while other temperature sensors can be placed in close proximity to the electronic equipment so that the amount of heat being generated by the electronic equipment can be more easily monitored. The pressure sensors 235 can be placed both upstream and downstream of the pressurized plenum 210 so that the pressure differential can be more easily monitored. The type of sensor used to capture the environmental information can also vary, including pressure and temperature transducers and thermocouples.

In one embodiment, other sensors can also be used to further monitor the environmental conditions associated with the electronic equipment, such as humidity sensors 240 and flow sensors 245. The humidity sensors 240 allow the controller 180 to monitor the humidity that the electronic equipment is being exposed to and to adjust the humidity accordingly, such as through use of a de-humidifier 112 that is in fluid communication with the electronic equipment. The flow sensors 245 allow the controller 180 to monitor the flow rate of air, such as for determining heat transfer via convection. The use of flow sensors 245 can also be used for determining other environmental characteristics, such as air flow turbulence, that can have an adverse impact on the cooling of the electronic equipment or the equipment itself.

The sensors can communicate with the controller 180 via hardwire (e.g., cables 181) and/or wireless links 182. The particular communication protocols that are utilized can vary and can include Wireless Fidelity or WiFi services, Bluetooth, GSM, CDMA, UMTS, WiMAX, and so forth. A combination of communication techniques can also be utilized, such as allowing the sensors to communicate both wirelessly and via hardwire to provide redundancy so that data is not lost in the event of a link failure.

The controller 180 can receive the environmental information from the sensors and adjust the environmental conditions accordingly. In one embodiment, each of the cabinets 10 can have a range of environmental conditions that are acceptable. In real time, the controller 180 can receive the environmental information associated with each of the cabinets 10 and then in real time can adjust one or more of the temperature, pressure and humidity associated with the cabinets.

For example, the controller 180 can determine that a first cabinet 10 needs to lower its temperature by a desired amount. The controller 180 can then transmit control signals for making the appropriate adjustment to achieve the desired temperature change. For instance, the controller 180 can transmit a control signal to the cooling subsystem 150 to increase coolant flow to the coil 175 that is associated with the particular cabinet or to decrease the temperature of the coolant that is being provided to the coil. In one embodiment, the controller 180 can transmit a control signal to the cooling subsystem 150 which designated a desired temperature and the subsystem can then implement the necessary steps to achieve the desired temperature. As another example, the controller 180 can transmit a control signal to the pressurized plenum that is associated with the particular cabinet so that the pressure differential is increased thereby increasing the air flow through the particular cabinet. In one embodiment, the controller 180 can independently utilize the pressurized plenum 210 and the cooling subsystem 150 to adjust the temperature associated with a particular cabinet. In another embodiment, the controller 180 can utilize both of the pressurized plenum 210 and the cooling subsystem 150 to adjust the temperature associated with a particular cabinet.

As another example, the controller 180 can determine that a first cabinet 10 needs to decrease its air flow rate through the cabinet 10 a desired amount. The controller 180 can then transmit control signals for making the appropriate adjustment to achieve the desired air flow rate. For instance, the controller 180 can transmit a control signal to the pressure source 215 of the pressurized plenum to decrease the pressure within the plenum that is associated with the particular cabinet. In one embodiment, a damper 120 can be utilized for air flow control. For instance, the damper 120 can be positioned downstream of the pressurized plenum 210 and opened or closed using an actuator 122 (e.g., a servo-motor or other movable control device). In this example, the controller 180 can restrict air flow to the particular cabinet by sending control signals to the actuator 122 which results in the damper moving towards a closed position.

Controller 180 can also utilize historical information to provide environmental management for the cabinets 10. For example, the controller 180 can monitor the temperature of particular cabinets based on particular times of the day and adjust the environmental conditions of the cabinets in anticipation of those temperatures. For instance, historical data may show that electronic equipment in a particular cabinet is typically being used to capacity during the morning with a resulting elevation of cabinet temperature during those morning hours. The controller 180 can adjust the temperature in the particular cabinet to a lower portion of the desired range in anticipation of the increased temperature in the morning. The historical data can be maintained in a memory of the controller 180 or can be stored elsewhere and retrieved by the controller.

Controller 180 can also maintain historical information associated with the efficiency of the thermal control being implemented by the controller. For example, the controller 180 can implement several different techniques for achieving a desired environmental condition and compare the techniques to determine which was the most efficient. For instance, where a temperature decrease is needed, the controller 180 can on a first occasion utilize an increase in pressure differential to achieve the lower temperature. On a second occasion, the controller 180 can utilize the cooling subsystem 150 to achieve the lower temperature. The controller 180 can then determine efficiency based on such factors as the amount of time needed to achieve the lower temperature, the amount of power utilized in achieving the lower temperature and so forth. In this example, the controller 180 can then utilize this historical information to determine which thermal management techniques should be utilized in the future based on the particular circumstances.

In one embodiment, other factors can also be analyzed by the controller 180 for determining the particular technique to utilize to achieve the desired environmental condition. For instance, vibration or noise can be monitored with respect to the use of certain components of the system 100 and the amount of vibration or noise can be a factor in determining which technique (e.g., which cooling components) should be utilized.

In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 2E-I, blowers 250 can be housed in plenums 210 for providing a pressure differential to the computer devices, such as racks 255. The blowers 250 can engage with channels 257 so that the blowers can be slid or otherwise positioned in fluid communication with the racks 255. For example, the channels 257 can guide a blower housing 251, such as along roller bearings, so that the housing can travel into a desired position. The channels 257 can be of various types, including U-shaped channels. In this example, the blower housing 251 provides for a modular relationship with the racks 255 so that blowers 250 can be easily added as the number of racks is increased, removed as the number of racks decreases, or accessed for repair or the like.

In one embodiment, the racks 255 can be positioned above the blowers 255 and a controllable damper 260 can be utilized. In another embodiment, air flow can be more closely controlled through use of a first controllable damper, such as motorized cone damper 265, and a second damper, such as motorized damper 260. The controllable dampers 260 can be of various types including extruded aluminum dampers having opposed or parallel airfoil blades, such as CD40 or CD504 Extruded Aluminum Dampers manufactured by Ruskin®. In one embodiment, the dampers utilize four inch wide airfoil blades that pivot between open and closed positions within a square frame.

Cooling coils 270 can be placed in the air flow path of the blowers 250 and drain pans 272 or other water collection devices can be placed under the coils. In one embodiment, the drain pans 272 can have leak detectors connected thereto. A dehumidifier, such as an ultrasonic dehumidifier 275, can be placed in fluid communication with the racks 255. The coils 270 and/or dehumidifier 275 can be connected with a water chilled loop system 280 as shown in FIG. 2J.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 2K, the cabinets 10 can have generally solid side walls 12, a front 14 and a back 16. The cabinet 10 may be used to house a plurality of servers 15 or other pieces of electronic equipment, including routers, DSLAM's and so forth. Suitable dimensions for the cabinet 10 can vary depending on a number of factors including the type of electronic equipment, the facility space available, and the thermal management resources (e.g., the insulation factors, cooling power and so forth) but can include a height of 7 feet, a width of 3 feet and a depth of 4 feet.

Referring additionally to FIGS. 3-8, the cabinet 10 may include generally L-shaped horizontal rails 17 attached to, and supported by, four vertical rail supports 18 which form part of a frame 19 that is positioned in the interior of the cabinet 10. A plurality of rails 17 may be provided in pairs to form shelving brackets on which electronic components can be supported. The rails may have any suitable formation, one suitable formation being standard square hole rails that may be positioned 19″ apart to form a 19″ rack. The rails may be mounted to the vertical rail supports 18 and define the depth of the racks for housing the electronic components 15.

The vertical rail supports 18 and the rails 17 can define an electronic component storage area 20 that is located within the frame 19. The positioning of the frame 19 can define a front service area 21 forward of the frame to the front 14 of the cabinet, a rear service area 22 rearward of the frame to the back 16 of the cabinet 10. Two side service areas 23 can be defined to the sides of the frame 19. The cabinet can be designed to be 42 U in height, with “U,” or rack unit, being a unit of measure used to describe the height of equipment intended for mounting in a 19-inch rack or a 23-inch rack (the dimension referring to the width of rack). One rack unit can be 1.75″ (44.45 mm) high. Thus, a suitable number of rails 17 can be provided to equal the desired height of the cabinet, with the rails being spaced a suitable number of rack units apart.

An insulated thermal management plate 24 can be provided, which can be moved within the cabinet 10. The thermal management plate 24 can be formed of any suitable material. In one arrangement, the plate 24 can be formed of ABS plastic with a foam insulation backing. The thermal management plate 24 can extend from the front 14 of the cabinet 10 towards the back 16, typically to the rear vertical rail support 18 which marks the front end of the rear service area 22. The electronic components to be housed within the cabinet 10 can be stored within the cabinet, such as starting from the lowest rack and working upwards. The thermal management plate 24 is easily movable within the cabinet and is typically placed within the cabinet 10 just above the height of the highest electronic component that is stored within the cabinet 10. The plate 24 may be attached to the rails 17 that are positioned directly above the top-most electronic component, or may simply be rested thereon. At the front edge of the thermal management plate 24, the corners may be chamfered or cut off.

An insulated thermal curtain 25 can be provided at the back 16 of the cabinet 10. The thermal curtain 25 is preferably made of a composite material, though can be formed of any suitable material. The curtain 25 can be suspended from a deployment device 26, such as a spring loaded or ratcheted roller mechanism that is attached at the top of the frame 19. The curtain 25 can either be mounted within or adjacent to the rear rail supports 18 such that it is located at the edge of the rear service area 22. A bottom bracket 28 can enable the curtain 25 to be easily raised and lowered. Typically, the curtain is lowered until it is level with the thermal management plate 24. The curtain 25 can be formed of a thermal insulating material that prevents heat transfer. U-markings 30 may be provided on the curtain at 1.75″ intervals, along with a company logo for the cabinet manufacturer. With a 19″ rack width, the curtain 25 can be 20″ wide.

The curtain 25 can run in, or otherwise be guided by, vertical U-shaped rails attached to the vertical rail supports 18 such that the curtain provides a generally sealed barrier to the transport of air. It should be appreciated, that although the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 2J has curtain 25 provided at the back 16 of the cabinet 10, it may alternatively or in addition be provided at the sides of the cabinet, and/or at only one of the front, back or sides of the cabinet. In other arrangements, the thermal curtain 25 can be positioned at the front of the cabinet 10.

The thermal management plate 24 and the thermal curtain 25 can be used to separate the interior space of the cabinet 10 into different zones by forming baffles to the air flow and heat transfer. A cold zone can be defined within the front service area 21, bounded at the rear by the electronic components that are stored within the racks, and at the top by the thermal management plate 24. The front door, the sides 12 and the bottom of the cabinet 10 can form the other boundaries of the cold zone. A hot zone can be defined within the rear service area 22, bounded at the front by the electronic components that are stored within the racks and by the thermal curtain 25 that extends from the top of the cabinet 10 to the thermal management plate 24. The sides 12, the rear door, the bottom and the top of the cabinet 10 can form the other boundaries of the hot zone. A neutral heat zone can be formed above the cold zone, defined between the top of the cabinet 10, the thermal management plate 24, the sides 12 of the cabinet, the front door of the cabinet 10 and the thermal curtain 25. Thus, the hot zone typically forms the entire volume of the rear service area 22, while the front service area 21 and the electronic component storage area 20 can be split vertically by the horizontally-oriented plate 24 into the neutral heat zone at the top and the cold zone at the bottom.

Air flow within the cabinet can go first from the cold zone rearwardly through the electronic component storage area 20 where it becomes heated due to contact with the electronic components therein and exits into the hot zone. The air can then flow vertically upwards within the hot zone to exit the cabinet. The neutral zone is designed to be cut off from this air flow by the thermal management plate 24 and the thermal curtain 25. The neutral zone formed above the thermal management plate 24 can be used for storage for equipment such as laptops or other devices.

In other arrangements, a thermal curtain 25 may be provided without provision of a thermal management plate 24, in which case the thermal curtain may be positioned to either the front or back of the storage area 20, or at any location therebetween such as at the center thereof. The thermal curtain 25 can be mounted to the top of the cabinet, and can be simply extended downwardly until it reaches the top-most electronic component stored in the storage area 20. This arrangement thus splits the interior of the cabinet 10 into a hot zone and a cold zone by vertically dividing the space using the thermal curtain 25. In one embodiment shown in FIG. 3, one or more cable trays 322 or other structural guides can be provided for facilitating positioning of cables within the cabinet.

The system can further include one or more power distribution units (PDU's) 287 such as shown in FIGS. 2L-2N. The PDU 287 can include main and distribution circuit breakers as well as various power regulation components, including 300 KVA transformers and multi-pole panelboards.

In yet other arrangements, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the thermal management plate 24 can extend from the front 14 of the cabinet to the front vertical rail supports 18, and the thermal curtain 25 can be provided close to the front vertical rail supports. This creates a smaller neutral heat zone but still performs the function of preventing the cold zone from extending the full height of the cabinet 10 when the electronic components are not necessarily stacked up to the top of the cabinet 10.

Referring additionally to FIGS. 11 and 12, adjacent to the vertical rail supports 18 at the front 14 and back 16 of the cabinet 10, a plurality of air management fingers 34 and/or brushes 35 can be provided, which can extend to the sides or front/back of the cabinet 10. The fingers can be formed of a non-thermally conductive flexible material, such as a foam, rubber or plastic material. The fingers 34 can be generally rectangularly shaped and can be attached at one end only to a support which is attached the rail supports 18. Each finger can be separately moveable, and can allow cables to be passed therethrough by pushing the cables in-between adjacent fingers 34. The brushes 35 can be similarly arranged, attached at one end only to the rail supports 18. In another embodiment, the brushes 35 can be provided on supports on either side of the gap between the rail supports 18 and the sides/front/back of the cabinet such that the brushes meet in the middle.

In one arrangement, a set of fingers 34 can extend from the rail supports 18 to the sides 12 of the cabinet at the rear edge of the front service space 21. A set of brushes 35 can extend from the rail supports 18 to the rear 16 of the cabinet 12. The side service areas 23 can thus be defined by the fingers 34 and brushes 35, such that they are bounded at the front by the fingers 34, at the sides by the sides 12 of the cabinet at the sides of the electronic components stored in the storage area 20 and the brushes 35, and at the rear by the rear 16 of the cabinet. The side service areas 23 can thus be generally separated from the airflow in the cabinet by the fingers 34 and/or brushes 35, which form baffles, and the side service areas 23 thus form secondary neutral heat zones. It will of course be appreciated that any arrangement of brushes and/or fingers can be employed to both provide a separation of the air flow from the side service areas 23 and still to allow cables to be threaded into and through the side service areas 23 for appropriate cable management purposes.

In another arrangement, in place of or in addition to fingers 34 and/or brushes 35, flexible foam insulation pieces 33 can be used. The foam pieces may be provided in two parts: a generally thin rectangular piece 33 a may be extended vertically from the cut corners of the thermal management plate 24, and a generally triangular-section piece 33 b may be attached to a door 36 of the cabinet. When the door 36 is closed, the two foam pieces 33 a and 33 b can abut one another. Cables can then be run from the electronic components stored on the rack through the abutting foam pieces 33 a, 33 b, to the side service areas 23. The foam insulation pieces 33 can thus form baffles between the cold zone and the neutral heat zone of the side service areas 23. However, it should be understood that other insulating techniques and structures can be used, including other insulation means in place of the foam pieces 33 a and 33 b.

The sides 12 may each include one or more removable side panels to allow access between cabinets. The sides 12 and side panels may be constructed of lightweight composite materials with non thermal conductive properties. Insulation may also be provided on the side panels. In some arrangements, the sides 12 may include one or more punch out panels so that cables may be run from servers stored in one cabinet 10 to servers stored in another cabinet 10. As the side service areas 23 are generally neutral air zones, it does not affect the cooling capabilities of the cabinet airflow to provide punch out holes in the sides.

The back 16 and the front 14 may both include one or more doors 36. The door 36 may have a side hinge, and may be constructed of lightweight composite materials similar to the sides 12, and may also be insulated. In one embodiment, a double door may be provided, which has the advantage of allowing a decrease in necessary aisle space between cabinets that face one another. The door may include a temperature sensor that may be viewed without opening the door. The temperature sensor may be provided behind a window in the door, or may have a sensor part mounted inside the cabinet and a display part mounted on the outside of the door. The door may include a combination lock, or other locking mechanism. A rubber or other seal (not shown) may be provided around the doors 36, to help to seal any air gaps that might be created.

The cabinet 10 may be mounted on a modular base 37, forming a bottom 38 of the cabinet. The base may measure 3′ wide by 4′ long, and may allow access to a raised floor system 60 such as a TATE 24″×24″ modular access floor system. A front section 40 of the base 37 is open to the subfloor, and registers with corresponding openings that are created to the raised floor system. A plurality of feet 42 are provided to bear the weight of the cabinet. A skirt (not shown) may surround the feet to prevent cool air from exiting around the base 37.

An airflow duct or chimney 44 may extend from a top 46 of the cabinet 10. It should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the chimney can be removed from the embodiment such that the hot air flows directly into the room such as through a perforated back of the cabinet (not shown). The duct 44 can extend generally from an area of the top 46 that is adjacent to the back 16 of the cabinet. The duct 44 is dimensioned to extend into a ceiling space 62 such as an above-ceiling plenum for venting hot air to a venting means (not shown). The duct 44 may be flexible so that it can be easily connected to the ceiling even in the event of imperfect positioning of the cabinet 10 below a vent panel into the ceiling space 62. In one arrangement, the duct 44 can be formed of a flexible fabric or plastic material. In another embodiment, the duct 44 can be formed of a rigid material. The ceiling space 62 may be a standard drop ceiling system. Various components can be provided in the top 46 such as a power raceway 47 and a public communications raceway 48, both of which may be open to the room.

A divider 49 may divide the public communications raceway 48 for fiber and copper cables. A patch panel 50 can extend from the public communications raceway into a private communications raceway 52 for pass through of cables into the interior of the cabinet 10. Dividers 53 may be included in the private communications raceway 52 for dividing the space for fiber and copper cables. Junction boxes 54 may be provided in the power raceway 48 a for supply of power to the power circuit in the cabinet. Power strips 56 and cable managers 58 may be provided adjacent the back 16 of the cabinet 10. It will be appreciated that the arrangement of components at the top 46 of the cabinet 10 can be varied to suit the particular application.

In use, the cabinet 10 can be installed over a raised access floor 60 that is provided with cooled air from an HVAC or other system. The base 37 can be registered with openings in the floor 60. The chimney can be extended into a drop ceiling 62. The electronic components can be installed on rails 17, and are appropriately cabled by passing cables through the foam pieces 33, fingers 34 and/or brushes 35 into the side service areas 23. Standard cable management ladders may be employed in the side service areas 23 to hold the cables at the right height and to allow them to be passed to the tops of the cabinet. The cables are run to the top of the cabinet 10 for connection to the power supply and to communications cables, which may be connected to other servers using standard overhead ladder racks. The doors 36 are then closed.

As the electronic components are operated, they generate heat which is forced to the rear service area 22 by the airflow coming into the cold zone of the front service area 21 of the cabinet via the aperture 40 at the front of the cabinet. The hot zone created in the rear service area 22 due to the heating effect of the electronic components causes the air to flow up through the duct 44. The air thus circulates from the cold zone, through the electronic components in the storage area 20 to the hot zone and up into duct 44. The various baffles such as the thermal management plate 24, thermal curtain 25 and foam pieces 33, fingers 34 and/or brushes 35 constrain the airflow into the smallest possible space within the cabinet, and prevent hot and cold air mixing other than through the electronic component storage area 20. In one embodiment, the plate 24 is not utilized with the cabinet.

In order to ensure that sufficient cool air is delivered to the upper most electronic components, one or more flow diverters can optionally be used. For example, a perforated curtain 70 as shown in FIG. 13 or a series of plates 72 as shown in FIG. 14, may be used. Such arrangements can help to keep cool air flowing towards the top servers rather than allowing, it all to be directed to the lower servers.

In one exemplary embodiment, the cabinet enclosure can have an inlet and an outlet in proximity to a bottom portion of the cabinet enclosure. A supply channel can be connected with the cabinet enclosure inlet. The cabinet enclosure can be positioned on a floor and the supply channel can be under the floor. An exhaust channel can be connected with the cabinet enclosure outlet. One or more plenums can be in fluid communication with at least one of the supply and exhaust channels. The plenums can have a pressure source for generating a pressure differential through the enclosure of the cabinet enclosure causing air to flow therethrough. A cooling coil can be positioned under the floor and in thermal contact with the supply channel. A coolant can flow through the cooling coil to remove heat from the air flowing through the supply channel.

In one exemplary embodiment, a thermal management cabinet for electronic equipment can include a cabinet frame having side walls and defining a front, a back, a top and a bottom, where the cabinet forms a generally sealed enclosure for electronic equipment. An electronic component storage area including at least one shelving rack for supporting electronic equipment can be defined in an interior section of the cabinet. At least one opening can be included in the top of the cabinet, and at least one opening can be included in the bottom of the cabinet. The cabinet can be dimensioned to extend between a raised access floor of a building and a drop ceiling of a building, where the access floor carries cooled air and the drop ceiling venting heated air. The bottom opening of the cabinet can be alignable with an opening in the access floor such that cool air from the access floor passes into the cabinet and flows through the electronic component storage area to exit the cabinet through the top opening, which is alignable with an opening in the drop ceiling.

The cabinet interior can be separated into temperature zones comprising at least a cold zone supplied with air from the bottom opening of the cabinet and a hot zone for venting through the top opening, with at least one baffle provided to create the temperature zones such that air is directed to flow from the cold zone through the electronic component storage area to the hot zone. In one arrangement, the baffle can comprise a thermal management plate that is positioned horizontally in the cabinet above the electronic component storage area. The thermal management plate can be formed of insulated material such as a plastic material backed with an insulator.

In another arrangement, the baffle can comprise a heat transfer curtain that is positioned vertically in the cabinet above the electronic component storage area. The heat transfer curtain can be formed of a composite material. In yet another arrangement, the baffle can be flexible and can allow cables to be passed through areas of the cabinet while providing a heat transfer barrier. The flexible baffle can comprise at least one of flexible fingers, foam insulation and brushes. The flexible fingers and brushes can extend from the electronic component storage area to at least one of the side walls, front and back of the cabinet. The at least one foam insulation can comprise two flexible foam pieces positioned to allow cables to be passed therebetween.

In another embodiment, a duct can extend from the top opening of the cabinet for connection to a drop ceiling. The duct can be formed of a flexible material such as a fabric material. At least one door can be provided in at least one of the front and back of the cabinet. The at least one door can be a double door. Insulation pieces can be provided adjacent at least one hinged edge of the at least one door. The insulation pieces can form a flexible baffle, and can comprise two flexible foam pieces positioned to allow cables to be passed therebetween. At least one side of the cabinet can include a removable panel. At least one punch hole having a removable plug can be provided in at least one side of the cabinet. At least one airflow management structure can be provided adjacent to the bottom opening of the cabinet, which may be a perforated curtain. In one embodiment, the system can comprise a plurality of data containers (e.g., 40 feet long) with sixteen cabinets and two PDU's each equaling 144 customer cabinets and three associated 40′ power support units.

FIGS. 15A-C present data with respect to fans that can be used with one or more of the exemplary embodiments described herein. FIGS. 16A-D present data with respect to coils for the chilled water cooling system that can be used with one or more of the exemplary embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 17A-D illustrate yet another embodiment of a thermal cabinet housing 1700 that can be used with the exemplary systems described herein. The housing 1700 can have an upper opening 1725 for exhausting hot air from the servers within the housing. The opening can be connected to exhaust conduit and/or can exhaust directly into the room. In another embodiment, in combination with or in place of the opening 1725, openings 1750 can be formed along a portion of the housing, such as along the rear panel so that the hot air can be exhausted directly into the room.

The methodology and techniques described with respect to the exemplary embodiments can be performed using a machine or other computing device within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed above. In some embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may be connected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client user machine in server-client user network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The machine may include a processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a main memory and a static memory, which communicate with each other via a bus. The machine may further include a video display unit (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The machine may include an input device (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit, a signal generation device (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interface device.

The disk drive unit may include a machine-readable medium on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software) embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory, the static memory, and/or within the processor during execution thereof by the machine. The main memory and the processor also may constitute machine-readable media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement the methods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals communicated between and through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the methods described herein are intended for operation as software programs running on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementations can include, but not limited to, distributed processing or component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement the methods described herein.

The present disclosure contemplates a machine readable medium containing instructions, or that which receives and executes instructions from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a network environment can send or receive voice, video or data, and to communicate over the network using the instructions. The instructions may further be transmitted or received over a network via the network interface device.

While the machine-readable medium is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present disclosure.

The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile) memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape; or other self-contained information archive or set of archives is considered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a machine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functions implemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standards and protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards and protocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocols having the same functions are considered equivalents.

The illustrations of arrangements described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Many other arrangements will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Other arrangements may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Thus, although specific arrangements have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific arrangement shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments and arrangements of the invention. Combinations of the above arrangements, and other arrangements not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular arrangement(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments and arrangements falling within the scope of the appended claims.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A control system for providing thermal management of electronic equipment housed in a cabinet enclosure, the control system comprising: a plurality of sensors in proximity to the cabinet enclosure for monitoring a temperature, a pressure and a humidity associated with operation of the electronic equipment; a controller in communication with the sensors for receiving data from the sensors, wherein the controller is configured to generate control signals to independently adjust the temperature, the pressure and the humidity associated with the operation of the electronic equipment, wherein the controller is configured to collect efficiency data corresponding to adjustment techniques for adjusting the temperature associated with the operation of the electronic equipment, wherein the efficiency data comprises an elapsed time of each of the adjustment techniques, an amount of power utilized by each of the adjustment techniques, or a combination thereof; and adjustment equipment in communication with the controller, the adjustment equipment including a cooling subsystem, a damper, a dehumidifier, and a fan configured to receive the control signals to independently adjust the temperature, the pressure, and the humidity associated with the operation of the electronic equipment, wherein the adjustment techniques include a first technique and a second technique to decrease the temperature associated with the operation of the electronic equipment, the first technique including adjusting the pressure with the fan and the second technique including adjusting the temperature with the cooling subsystem, and wherein the controller is configured to select between the first technique and the second technique to achieve the decrease in temperature based on the efficiency data.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the damper is connected with a pressurized plenum to control an air flow to the electronic equipment based on the control signals generated by the controller.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the temperature, the pressure and the humidity associated with the operation of the electronic equipment in real time.
 4. A control system for providing thermal management of electronic equipment housed in a cabinet enclosure, the control system comprising: a plurality of sensors in proximity to the cabinet enclosure for monitoring a temperature, a pressure and a humidity associated with operation of the electronic equipment; a controller in communication with the sensors for receiving data from the sensors, wherein the controller is configured to generate control signals to independently adjust the temperature, the pressure and the humidity associated with the operation of the electronic equipment, wherein the controller is configured to collect efficiency data corresponding to adjustment techniques for adjusting the temperature associated with the operation of the electronic equipment, wherein the efficiency data comprises an elapsed time of each of the adjustment techniques, an amount of power utilized by each of the adjustment techniques, or a combination thereof; and adjustment equipment in communication with the controller, the adjustment equipment including a cooling subsystem, a damper, a dehumidifier, and a fan configured to receive the control signals to independently adjust the temperature, the pressure, and the humidity associated with the operation of the electronic equipment, wherein controller is configured to collect noise data associated with each of the adjustment techniques, and wherein the controller is configured to select between the adjustment techniques based on the noise data. 